United States Department of Transportation
i
Equity Assessment of Plug-In Electric Vehicle Purchase Incentives With a Focus on Atlanta, Georgia
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2020-06-01
[PDF-7.05 MB]
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Edition:Final Report
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Abstract:To help consumers overcome higher initial purchase costs of plug-in hybrid and battery-electric vehicles (collectively PEVs), and to help promote PEV adoption, government agencies and electric utilities have offered a variety of purchase and leasing incentives over time. While the PEV population has grown rapidly since 2011, the PEV market share and the demographics of PEV users varies significantly within and across regions. This research examines the distribution of benefits associated with consumption of PEV incentives across demographic groups in the Metro Atlanta area. The recipients of the PEV incentives were identified and associated benefits were quantified using models, monitored data, and surveys. The accessibility of incentives across demographic groups was evaluated to identify the barriers to participation across household income and other demographic group(s), including eligibility and credit amounts. For example, the Federal’s income tax credits for qualified PEV purchases were not accessible to many low-income household groups because credits could only be applied to taxes owed. A comparative analysis of socio-demographic characteristics of PEV users vs. non-PEV users was examined by household size and structure, income, etc. and, the differential impacts of PEV purchases on energy use and emission associated with replacement of conventional vehicles with PEVs were estimated. It was found that households with lower income or more children were less likely to be eligible for some or all of the federal PEV credit, ending up with 62.1% of households (59.2% of the population) in surveyed Atlanta Metro area that are not eligible for full federal PEV credit ($7,500). On the other hand, based on the in-field license plates investigation and emissions modeling results using MOVES-Matrix, vehicles from households with lower income levels produce higher emissions and would provide greater emission reduction benefits and energy savings if they were replaced with BEVs, assuming that daily vehicle use is comparable. However, these households are less likely to qualify for the full federal or state tax incentive. The study findings are expected to help decision-makers identify any potential distributive justice issues concealed within existing incentive policies.
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